Lewis Harper
Based in London, Lewis has been editor of Airline Business since 2021, having joined the publication as managing editor in 2016. His reporting covers the global airline sector, with Europe a key focus. Lewis also edits the Airline Business Newsletter and Airline Business’s daily publications at industry events, and he co-hosts the Airline Business Podcast. He previously worked in senior production roles at FlightGlobal and a variety of publications covering industries such as chemicals and defence.
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Airline BusinessFull-year 2024 report for benchmark global airlines
The global airline industry fell short of its 2023 profitability performance in 2024, according to aggregate earnings from Airline Business’s benchmark carriers/groups, although its fortunes improved over the second half of the year.
Airline BusinessWeek 20 2025: JetBlue-United tie-up, earnings from Brazil and Singapore
The coming week might bring some news on the shape of any tie-up between JetBlue Airways and United Airlines, with the latter holding an event in Boston on Tuesday.
Airline BusinessConfident IAG reassures on transatlantic as it orders dozens of widebodies
If IAG is the best bellwether for the state of transatlantic air travel, then it just delivered a reassuring assessment of what lies ahead.
NewsIAG reveals orders for 71 widebody jets from Airbus and Boeing
British Airways and Iberia parent IAG has revealed orders for 71 widebody jets from Airbus and Boeing as it seeks to replace older long-haul types and grow its fleet.
Airline BusinessEmirates acknowledges ‘jittery’ markets as it powers ahead in global profit race
Emirates has once again set a high benchmark for global airline earnings, announcing a full-year group net profit of Dhs20.5 billion ($5.57 billion) while saying it has “excitement and optimism” about the year to come.
Airline BusinessQ4 2024 performance report for benchmark global airlines
The global airline industry ended 2024 with a strong performance in terms of operating profit but saw its net result drop, largely accounted for by swingeing losses among the two Brazilian carriers included in the data as they grappled with local currency weakness.
Airline BusinessWeek 19 2025: Earnings bonanza continues with US-Canada and transatlantic latest
There is little let-up this week from what is proving to be a very condensed airline earnings season, with operators including Air Canada, Allegiant Air, Avianca, Copa Airlines and IAG all set to report their first-quarter performances and outlooks.
Airline BusinessTurkish Airlines heads into summer with point to prove
When Turkish Airlines outlined a loss-making first quarter of 2025 on 29 April, it was noteworthy for being the first red profit figures from the operator since the first half of 2021.
NewsInflation-hit Turkish Airlines reports first quarterly loss since 2021
Turkish Airlines experienced its first loss-making quarter since the first half of 2021 in the first three months of 2025, as high inflation and a weak local currency combined with the impact of a February snow storm to weigh on its earnings.
NewsIcelandair to end widebody operations in 2029
Icelandair will cease widebody operations when it retires its Boeing 767-300ER fleet in 2029 and instead focus entirely on narrowbodies.
Airline BusinessAir France-KLM confident on summer as premium demand impresses
When Air France-KLM chief financial officer Steven Zaat described his comments on the USA as the thing “everybody is here to hear about” during the group’s earnings call on 30 April, he reflected the current mood of uncertainty in the global airline market.
NewsAir France-KLM upbeat on summer despite economic uncertainties
Air France-KLM recorded a “solid” start to 2025 and is positive about the summer outlook, even amid the economic uncertainties created by the actions of the Trump Administration in the USA.
Airline BusinessFinnair acknowledges limited economic visibility after ‘tough’ first quarter
Finnair had a challenging first three months of 2025 and faces more uncertainty in the current quarter, as it works to keep its earnings on track.
NewsIndustrial action weighs on Finnair earnings in ‘tough’ first quarter
Finnair saw its losses deepen in the first quarter of 2025 as “prolonged” industrial action by pilots and increased sustainability-linked costs hit its bottom line.
Airline BusinessUncertainty rules as American is latest US carrier to report domestic weakness
When American Airlines executives discussed the operator’s first-quarter 2025 earnings on 24 April there was one word that kept being repeated over and over in the context of the US economy: uncertainty.
NewsAmerican Airlines cites ‘uncertainties’ as it withdraws full-year guidance
US major American Airlines has withdrawn its full-year guidance as it grapples with economic uncertainties emanating from its home country.
Airline BusinessQ4 2024 report for benchmark Latin American airlines
Full fourth-quarter results from Airline Business’s benchmark airlines in the Latin America region show them recording lower profitability year on year in US dollar terms, as currency issues in particular weighed on the aggregate data.
NewsQatar Airways, IAG and MASkargo plan joint freight business
Qatar Airways Cargo, IAG Cargo and Malaysia Airlines’ MASkargo intend to form a global joint freight business under plans announced on 22 April.
Airline BusinessWeek 17 2025: Potential recession weighs on US outlook
This week is a busy one for US airline earnings, with three of the biggest players set to outline their performances for the January-March period – and their outlooks amid the uncertainties created by the policies of the Donald Trump administration
Airline BusinessFull-year 2024 report for benchmark Asia-Pacific airlines
Full-year 2024 data for Airline Business’s benchmark airlines in Asia-Pacific shows the region’s carriers essentially matching 2023’s operating profit and falling slightly short at a net level, in a year that started and ended with improved quarterly results